What will you do in Heaven?

Overview of the Millennium which is a 1,000-year period in which Jesus will rule the world in righteousness. Millennium is from the Latin “mille” (a thousand). I saw thrones, and they (saints) sat on them…They lived and reigned with Christ for 1000 years…6 They shall reign with Him 1000 years. (Rev. 20:4-6)

B. Israel through history has focused on the earthly dimension of the kingdom without the heavenly. They think of the Messiah coming to restore the throne of David with its worldwide government coming out of Jerusalem that will reform the whole world and restore it to the Garden of Eden. They are not thinking of resurrected bodies and angels. The Church has focused on the heavenly dimension with resurrected bodies in heaven with the angels. They do not think much about reigning with Jesus on the throne of David over all nations and restoring the earth to the conditions of the Garden of Eden.

Jesus is both King of the Nations and head of the Church. He is both the human Son of David and the divine Son of God. The Christian concept of a heavenly Kingdom is from Rev. 21-22 with the New Jerusalem and streets of gold and the Hebrew view of the Davidic Kingdom. We need all four aspects to have our hope, according to the New Testament, established firmly in our life. In order for us to have a firm and solid hope we need to understand all four of these concepts to some degree. If we miss the Garden of Eden dimension then we fail to see the glory of Jesus our Creator in Gen. 1-2.

c. Jesus as King of Kings will personally govern a worldwide Kingdom from Jerusalem. At this time the Kingdom of God will be openly manifest worldwide affecting every sphere of life (political, social, agricultural, economic, spiritual, educational, law enforcement, family, media, arts, technology, athletics, environment, social institutions, etc.) Jesus will rule the earth with the natural human processes not suspended, yet significantly enhanced by the supernatural dimension of the Spirit. (Isa 2, 4, 9, 11)

C. The centerpiece of God’s purpose: bringing heaven and earth together. God’s plan has always been for Jesus to come back to establish His Kingdom over all the earth as He joins the heavenly and earthly realms together. Those who are in heaven now will get resurrected bodies at His return. He’s wanted His people to live together with Him in this way all along. 9 Having made known to us the mystery (plan) of His will…10 that He might gather together in one ALL things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth. (Eph. 1:9-10)

D. When Jesus returns, all the kings of the earth will be saved and worship Jesus (Ps. 102:15; 148:11; Isa. 62:2) and base their national governments on His Scripture. The result will be 1000-years of righteousness as the whole earth is progressively restored to conditions in the Garden of Eden.

E. All the saints who overcome will reign with Jesus, not only End-Time martyrs. The saints are repeatedly promised to reign with Jesus (Rev. 2:26-27; 3:21; 5:10; 20:4-6; 22:5; Mt. 19:28; 20:21-23; 25:23; Lk. 19:17-19; 22:29-30; 1 Cor. 6:2-3; 2 Tim. 2:12; Rom 8:17). 27 The kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the saints… (Dan. 7:27).

F. ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents…’ 21 “His lord said, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord.’ (Mt. 25:14-21) Jesus gives us the revelation of the great exchange of “few things” to “many things” and the joy in ruling with Him. In other words, the saints will enjoy ruling in partnership with Jesus. Jesus reworded this same principle. He said that those who were faithful in “very little” would have “government over ten cities” in the Millennial Kingdom.17 Well done…you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities. (Lk. 19:17).

G. The saints will reign with judicial responsibility and authority. This role involves authority to evaluate the past (judging) and to determine action plans for the future for the areas they rule. The ruling saints will appoint people into positions in the infrastructure within their sphere of responsibility. This will include training and managing the people who are appointed.

2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world?…the world will be judged by you…
3 Do you not know that we shall judge (evaluate) angels? (1 Cor. 6:2-3)

28 In the regeneration (Millennium), when the Son of Man sits on the Throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will sit on 12 thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” (Mt. 19:28) 29 I bestow upon you a kingdom…30 that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (Lk. 22:29-30)

Many people are called (invited to inherit great things) yet only a few are chosen or esteemed by God as faithful or worthy to be commissioned to rule with Jesus when He returns. 14 For many are called (invited by God), but few are chosen (commissioned) (Mt. 22:14).

The only ones chosen or commissioned, are the faithful who are proven and consistent in meek obedience under the varied pressures of opportunity, temptation, and resistance. Jesus reveals that only a few will have a sufficient maturity in faithfulness to rule in the Millennium.

19 Whoever breaks (consistently) one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches (encourages) them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (Mt. 5:19)

God invites “whosoever” or literally everyone to be great in His Kingdom. This is a primary teaching in the Sermon on the Mount (Mt. 5-7). We cannot repent of the desire for greatness because God designed our spirit with this longing. We must repent for seeking greatness in a wrong way. We must also repent for neglecting to seek greatness (simply because Jesus designed and called us to be great in His sight). Without the paradigm of being on a journey to greatness, the Sermon on the Mount lifestyle is much more difficult to sustain. 6 He who comes to God must believe…He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. (Heb. 11:6)

Jesus taught that there is a great difference in the measure of glory and greatness that we all experience in God’s Kingdom. Some are called the least and some the greatest. A voice came from the Throne, saying, “Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great!” (Rev. 19:5)

Jesus revealed a new paradigm for greatness. We are to focus on being great in His sight rather than in the sight of men. We understand that this greatness will be fully manifest in the age-to- come not in this age. Our greatness will be based on our heart responses not on natural gifting and resources and thus, it is available to everyone (the “whoever” of Mt. 5:19; 20:26-27; 23:12).

Promotion and greatness in God’s sight is available to all. God invites all to greatness without regard to outward achievements but the development of their heart in love and meekness. 6 Whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. (Mt. 20:26)

H. We pray for strength to be found faithful to be worthy to reign with Jesus in the Millennium. When He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints… therefore we pray always for you that God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all (fullness of our calling as seen in the Millennial Kingdom) the good pleasure of His goodness… (2 Thes. 1:10-11)

I. Jesus gave His disciples the revelation of the great exchange that occurs at the harvest as some who are “last” in privilege and prominence in this age will be “first” in the Kingdom Age. Those who choose to be last by their lifestyle choices of humility will be first in age-to-come. 30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first. (Mt. 19:30) 16 The last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen. (Mt. 20:16)

Only a few will have a sufficient maturity in meekness to share in the Millennial government. God must evaluate their life as proven in faithfulness (follow through), meekness, and obedience under the varied pressures of opportunity, temptation and resistance. Note the dilemma of “being first” in privilege and prominence often will lead to being “last” in the age-to-come.

K. Our rewards in eternity greatly differ from one another. 41 There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory. 42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. (1 Cor. 15:41-42)

It is necessary to be found faithful in pursuing 100-fold obedience if we are to receive the maximum blessing of what God has offered each one of us from our toil and labors in this life. The pursuit of 100-fold obedience includes making a covenant with our eyes (Ps. 101:3; Job 31:1), bridling our speech (Jas 3:2; Eph. 4:29-5:4), managing our time (Eph. 5:15-16; Ps. 90:12) and moneyto increase the Kingdom (beyond personal comfort and honor) (1 Tim. 6:8; Mt. 6:19-21) as we engage in communing prayer with the Holy Spirit (2 Cor. 13:14).

Our war with lust is difficult as we discard its “proud and sinful baggage” that we may enter the narrow gate as the only way to experience the Kingdom. Only a few persevere in their struggle against lust. We must not limit the narrow gate and the difficult way to only refer to being born again. The gate to “life in the Spirit” leads to a difficult way or lifestyle as a disciple of Jesus.

14Narrow is the gate and difficult is the way…to life, and there are few who find it. (Mt. 7:14)

The measure that we develop in love, meekness, and revelation (of His Word) determines our place and function in His eternal government (Mt. 7:14; 19:30; 20:16, 26-27; 22:14; Lk. 13:24). Our ministry in the age to come has nothing to do with how much we accomplished outwardly in this age, but rather how much we developed inwardly. The choices we make in our 70-year internship determine where and how we will function in our 1,000-year ministry assignment.

Premise: our calling in the age to come is far more important than our circumstances now. Our calling then is determined by the growth of our heart now. Paul understood that the persecution that caused his outward man to perish also gave occasion for his inward man to be renewed(grow in meekness). He saw the affliction of persecution and obedience as that which worked for the benefit of his main calling (Millennium) which he considered an eternal weight of glory.

16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory (includes ruling in the Millennium), 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen….for the thing which are not seen are eternal. (2 Cor. 4:16-18)

While in prison, Paul pressed in to finish faithfully that he might attain to all he was called too.

10 That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Phil. 3:10-14)

27 I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest…I… become disqualified. (1 Cor. 9:27)

Our view of authority dynamically shapes our view of seeking rewards in ruling the nations with Jesus after His Second Coming. If we see authority as the way to establish our honor before people and the way to secure our comfort by being over people, then we may not seek rewards. This paradigm of authority is based on the “pride of being over people.” The secular paradigm of authority and reward is one that seeks self glory in ruling to dominate people.

The Bridal paradigm of authority and reward is to be with Him where He is and doing what He is doing. It is being involved in what He calls precious. We will cherish and enjoy working closely with the One we love in the details of discipling the nations to bring people we love to the fullness of blessing under the Father’s authority. This paradigm is established on love.

Jesus’ view of authority (ruling) in the Millennial Kingdom is to walk in the delight of intimate partnership with the Father and His people so as to serve and enrich all. If we view authority as the way to close partnership with Jesus in establishing on earth what is dear to His heart, then we will want the fullness of authority that God has invited us to walk in during the Millennial Kingdom. The Father gave Jesus the nations as His reward because of the Father’s respect, trust and affection for Him. Therefore, the Father entrusted to Jesus what was precious to Him. Thus, He mandated that Jesus disciple the nations to bring them to the fullness of blessing under the Father’s authority. Think of the person you most love, enjoy and admire; you would want to work closely with that person to glorify God and enrich people’s lives. Multiply that by 10,000.

Jesus cherishes the partnership involved in ruling with His Father. In a similar way, we will also enjoy each step of the process of working closely with Jesus to bring the earth under the Father’s authority. We will delight in imparting the Father’s ways and values to those He loves.

21 Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy (enjoyment) of your Lord. (Mt. 25:21)

Jesus rewards us with authority or the privilege of close partnership with Him, in response to His respect of our life choices to love Him and to serve others in meekness.

The saints will have a position of authority in the governmental infrastructure to make important life enhancing decisions that determine the quality of life for many. The measure of our anointing will affect our impact and what we impart to others.

The House of Prayer includes the Millennial Temple with the Holy of Holies as the center of the worldwide worship and prayer movement. This brings an intimate relational aspect to the Millennial Kingdom as we encounter God and partner with Him in ruling through intercession. 7 For My house shall be called a House of Prayer for all nations. (Isa. 56:7)